Page 19 of Modern Romance January 2025 1-4

‘Not when I’m wracked with nerves, no,’ she conceded in apologetic afterthought.

He steered her through the crush into the beribboned car that would take them back to the house and the reception. ‘I don’t say stuff I don’t mean, not even to fake it,’ Nic censured.

Lexy breathed in deep and slow and scrutinised the platinum wedding ring on her finger because shestillfelt as though she were figuring in a daydream and that she couldn’t possibly be legally wed to the tall, absolutely gorgeous and very wealthy man beside her.

‘Nothing feels real to me today,’ she said truthfully. ‘I’ve lived a very quiet life and all this—the hype, the fuss, the glitz—it’s totally alien to me.’

‘I only want you to feel comfortable. I can promise you that after today, there will be no hype, no fuss.’

Calming down then, she allowed him to guide her into the house where they had dined the night before, where they greeted guests as they arrived before entering a room the size of a ballroom where the meal was being staged. Caterers were everywhere.

‘Did you invite your father?’ Nic enquired over the first course of their meal.

Lexy froze. ‘No. I contacted him shortly after I had the triplets and he wasn’t interested. In fact, he gave me a lecture about irresponsibility and even though Ezra was still in the special care baby unit, he didn’t want to visit him or even meet his first grandchildren. So, no, I didn’t want to invite him...even though he would probably be very impressed by you because you have status and wealth,’ she completed uncomfortably.

Lean, strong features taut, Nic nodded. ‘I agree with your decision.’

Relieved by that response, she relaxed more. ‘I’ve only got Mel here as a guest and I asked her parents if they wanted to come, but her father doesn’t have any leave left. Really, over the past couple of years, there’s been nobody else close enough to warrant a wedding invitation.’

Nic breathed in deep, carefully choosing his words, although there was a storm brewing inside him that he was holding back. ‘You’ve had a tough time without backup.’

The silence simmered and screamed between them and neither of them attempted to break it with adverse comments. Lexy wanted to ask him what had possessed him when he’d chosen to ignore and deny her situation. Nic wanted to ask her why she hadn’t given him a chance to help her and, even worse, had chosen to lie about having given him that chance when he knew for a fact that she had not.

The wedding speeches were short and soon over. The cake was cut and served and the dancing began. They spent ages socialising before Nic closed his hand over hers and whirled her onto the floor to dance. Initially Lexy was as stiff as a tree trunk in his arms, but he eased her closer until the warmth and strength of him bled through the layers of their clothing and melted the cold knot of indecision inside her. Heat pooled at the heart of her as he moved against her, powerful thighs and narrow hips flexing. Her nipples prickled and tightened and she swallowed hard as her body went off on a wonderland of rediscovery about Nic’s body without any prompting from her. In embarrassment, she tried to suppress her natural reaction to his proximity.

‘Relax,’ he urged huskily as she tensed again. ‘This performance is almost over.’

Yes, itwasa performance, she reminded herself grimly, not a real wedding day and she shouldn’t be responding to Nic as if he were a genuine husband or as if they were a couple in love.

Angeliki Bouras slid with a subtle sidewise movement between them. ‘I need a word with you in private,’ she informed Nic without embarrassment, as if it weren’t the slightest bit strange to part the bride and groom on the dance floor.

Irritation assailed Nic. Sometimes, Angeliki had the worst sense of timing, he thought as she urged him out of the ballroom and into Jace’s library across the hall.

‘What is it?’ Nic asked with an impatience he tried to mask out of politeness.

Angeliki smiled wide and bright, tossing her long blonde tresses back over one slim shoulder, dark eyes intent. ‘I felt it was time to give you some advice...now that you’re married without havingwantedto get married.’

That latter statement was truer than he wished and Angeliki actually voicing the fact set his teeth on edge. ‘I don’t need advice.’

‘Obviously you got married to secure your children. Three of them—Theos mou, couldn’t she have been less productive?’ Angeliki mocked with a wince of distaste as though fertility were a vulgar topic. ‘So what now? If you’re wondering, I can help.’

‘I’m not in need of any help,’ Nic cut in firmly.

‘If you live with your bride, you’ll bestuckwith her,’ Angeliki pointed out. ‘That’s not what you want.’

‘You don’t know what I want,’ Nic sliced in with finality, already swinging round to return to the door and leave her.

‘I’m thinking of what will make you happy,’ Angeliki declared, impressively enough that he turned his head back, warm dark eyes seeking his with sympathy. ‘I advise you to stash your unwanted bride in one of your many houses—say that lovely chateau in France—and leave her there to be Mrs Diamandis on her own. And then you continue with your life just as you like it, your freedom reclaimed.’

Nic frowned, exasperated by her interfering advice. ‘My plans with my wife and children are none of your business, Angeliki. However, your outlook is ridiculously limited. For a start, I have three children who willalwaysbe my children and I must act as their father. That’s my role in life. My father didn’t do it for me, but I will not be found lacking in the parental role when it comes to my children,’ he asserted grimly, ignoring her angry glower of dissatisfaction. ‘Excuse me... I should be with my bride.’

Nic appeared beside Lexy again and drew her straight back onto the dance floor. ‘Sorry about that. Angeliki was being a drama queen.’

‘Does she make a habit of that?’

‘More often than I find comfortable. I can still recall her screaming tantrums when we were kids,’ he confided with a chuckle. ‘She prefers to be the centre of attention.’

‘And she’s not likely to get that at our wedding,’ Lexy remarked, wishing he weren’t quite so fond of the beautiful blonde, who could only treat his bride like wallpaper.

---